FEACHTEXBERG] ALSEA TEXTS AND MYTHS 183 



"Thou shalt sit down right here. It is known that thou didst 

 arrive here. Thou shalt hear from right here. Thou art not (the) 

 only (one) who has come here. (There are) just many people here; 

 the people are constantly taking turns. One (person) quits (and) 

 goes back home." Now he was watching the people. All sorts of 

 things were being done. "Thou shalt see a shinny game." Then, 

 verih", he looked. Whenever the shinny ball was put into play, all 

 the people would simply shout. The people were swift runners, the 

 people were different (from those he knew at home). The people 

 (had) onl}^ feathers (in their hair). "Am I (not) going to be the 

 one who will now know all sorts of things V — " (After) one night tliou 

 shalt again watch there, where many people are playing the guessing 

 game. Enjoyable things are being enacted. Those people who 

 play the guessing game make (loud) noises. Thou shalt see all sorts 

 of things. Thou shalt be the one who (after a while) will do every- 

 thing. For that reascn hast thou come here. A large number of 

 dentalia shells are bet by those who play, a large number of dentalia 

 shells. (Then) in turn thou shalt go where everybody is shooting 

 at the target." Thereupon he went there.- All the people just tied 

 their hair on top (of their heads). Now he began to look on. "Thy 

 heart shall not be small; thou art not the same person (as before), 

 after thou hast come here." This much he was told continually. 

 In every house aU sorts of things were ])eing done. "It is not 

 going to be long before thou wilt go home. Now thou hast seen all 

 sorts of things. It is not a very small matter which thou hast come 

 to know. Thou wilt just know everything. Tiiy guardian spirit 

 will help thee. Thou shalt go home to-morrow." All those who were 

 dancmg had painted (themselves) in various ways. That man was 

 rather glad. "Now am I (not) going to be the one who will just 

 know all these things?" — "Thou shalt be the one, my friend, who will 

 do what is being done right here. All the games (which) thou seest 

 right here thou shalt enact (also). When thou shalt come back to 

 thy home, thou wilt do all (these things)." (Thus) that man was 

 told continually. "We will always watch thee, when thou wilt do 

 i t, what we are giving thee (here).' Thou wilt just beat all the peo- 

 ple. For that reason hast thou come here now. Even if thou shalt 

 become old, nevertheless thy heart will always be strong. Now 

 thou shalt go home. Thy shinny club (thou) shalt always paint 

 thus whenever thou wilt play shinny. We are the ones who grant- 

 (this) to thee. Thou shalt go home now. Thy heart shall always 

 (be directed) toward me." 



Now he was about to go home. That man almost did not go back. 

 (But after a while) he kept qu going. (He saw) a great number of 



